2021 TOYOTA PRIUS Owners Manual (in English)

PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
5376-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
■Tire types
●Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed performance tires best suited to highway
driving under dry conditions. Si nce summer tires do not have th e same
traction performance as snow tires, summer tires are inadequate for
driving on snow-covered or icy ro ads. For driving on snow-covered
roads or icy roads, the use of snow tires is recommended. When install-
ing snow tires, be sure to replace all four tires.
●All season tires
All season tires are designed to provide better traction in sno w and to
be adequate for driving in most winter conditions as well as fo r use
year-round. All season tires, however, do not have adequate tra ction
performance compared with snow tires in heavy or loose snow. Al so, all
season tires fall short in acceleration and handling performanc e com-
pared with summer tires in highway driving.
●Snow tires
For driving on snow-covered roads or icy roads, we recommend us ing
snow tires. If you need snow tires, select tires of the same si ze, con-
struction and load capacity as t he originally installed tires. Since your
vehicle has radial tires as original equipment, make sure your snow
tires also have radial construct ion. Do not install studded tires without
first checking local regulations for possible restrictions. Sno w tires
should be install ed on all wheels. ( P. 430)
■If the tread on snow tires wea rs down below 0.16 in. (4 mm)
The effectiveness of the tires as snow tires is lost.
■Low profile tires (vehicl es with 215/45R17 tires)
Generally, low profile tires will wear more rapidly and tire gr ip perfor-
mance will be reduced on snowy and /or icy roads when compared to
standard tires.
Be sure to use snow tires or tire chains on snowy and/or icy roads and
drive carefully at a speed approp riate for road and weather conditions.

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6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■Situations in which the tire pressure warning system may not oper-
ate properly
●In the following cases, the tire pressure warning system may no t operate
properly.
• If non-genuine Toyota wheels are used.
• When a replacement tire is used, the system may not operate cor-
rectly due to the structure of the replacement tire.
• A tire has been replac ed with a tire that is not of the specif ied size.
• Tire chains etc . are equipped.
• An auxiliary-supported ru n-flat tire is equipped.
• If a window tint that affects the radio wave signals is instal led.
• If there is a lot of snow or ice on the vehicle, particularly around the
wheels or wheel housings.
• If the tire inflation pressure is extremely higher than the sp ecified
level.
• If wheel without the tire pressure warning valve and transmitt er is
used.
• If the ID code on the tire pressure warning valves and transmi tters is
not registered in the tire pressure warning computer.
●Performance may be affected in the following situations.
• Near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio stat ion, large
display, airport or other facilit y that generates strong radio waves or
electrical noise
• When carrying a portable radio, cellular phone, cordless phone or
other wireless communication device
●When the vehicle is parked, the time taken for the warning to s tart or go
off could be extended.
●When tire inflation pressure declines rapidly for example when a tire has
burst, the warning may not function.
■The initialization operation
●Make sure to carry out initializ ation after adjusting the tire inflation pres-
sure.
Also, make sure the tires are co ld before carrying out initialization or tire
inflation pressure adjustment.
●If you have accidentally turned the power switch off during ini tialization,
it is not necessary to press the reset swit ch again as initialization will
restart automatically when the power switch has been turned to ON
mode for the next time.
●If you accidentally press the reset switch when initialization is not neces-
sary, adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified level when the
tires are cold, and cond uct initialization again.

PRIUS_OM_OM47E09U_(U)
5396-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
■When initialization of the tire pressure warning system has fai led
Initialization can be completed i n a few minutes. However, in the following
cases, the settings have not been record ed and the system will not oper-
ate properly. If repeated attempts to record tire inflation pre ssure settings
are unsuccessful, have the vehicl e inspected by your Toyota dealer.
●When operating the initialization of the system, the tire pressure warning
light does not flash 3 times an d the setting message does not a ppear on
the multi-information display.
●After driving for a certain period of time since the initializa tion has been
completed, the warning light comes on after blinking for 1 minute.
■Certifications for the tire pressure warning system
For vehicles sold in the U.S.A., Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam,
Saipan and Puerto Rico

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6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
For vehicles sold in Canada
WARNING
■When inspecting or replacing tires
Observe the following precautions to prevent accidents.
Failure to do so may cause damage to parts of the drive train as well as
dangerous handling characteristics, which may lead to an accide nt
resulting in death o r serious injury.
●Do not mix tires of different ma kes, models or tread patterns.
Also, do not mix tires of re markably different treadwear.
●Do not use tire sizes other th an those recommended by Toyota.
●Do not mix differently constructed tires (radial, bias-belted o r bias-ply
tires).
●Do not mix summer, all season and snow tires.
●Do not use tires that have b een used on another vehicle.
Do not use tires if you do not kn ow how they were used previous ly.
■When initializing the tire pressure warning system
Do not initialize the tire press ure warning system without firs t adjusting
the tire inflation pressure to t he specified level. Otherwise, the tire pres-
sure warning light may not come on even if the tire inflation p ressure is
low, or it may come on when the tire inflation pressure is actu ally nor-
mal.

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5416-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing tires, wheels, tire pressure warning valves,
transmitters and tire valve caps
●When removing or fitting the wheels, tires or the tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters, contact your Toyota dealer as the tire pres-
sure warning valves and transmitters may be damaged if not hand led
correctly.
●Make sure to install the tire val ve caps. If the tire valve caps are not
installed, water could enter the tire pressure warning valves a nd the
tire pressure warning valves could be bound.
●When replacing tire valve caps, do not use tire valve caps othe r than
those specified. The cap may become stuck.
■To avoid damage to the tire pressure warning valves and transmi t-
ters
When a tire is repaired with liqui d sealants, the tire pressure warning
valve and transmitter may not operate properly. If a liquid sea lant is
used, contact your Toyota dealer or other qualified service shop as soon
as possible. After use of liquid sealant, make sure to replace the tire
pressure warning valve and transmitter when repairing or replac ing the
tire. ( P. 5 3 4 )
■Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when drivi ng on roads with loose surfaces or pot-
holes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire inflation pressure, reducing
the cushioning ability of the t ires. In addition, driving on ro ugh roads
may cause damage to the tires themselves, as well as the vehicl e’s
wheels and body.
■Low profile tires (vehicl es with 215/45R17 tires)
Low profile tires may cause greater damage than usual to the wh eel
when receiving impact from the ro ad surface. Therefore pay attention to
the following:
●Be sure to use proper tire inflation pressure. If tires are und er-inflated,
they may be damaged more severely.
●Avoid pot holes, uneven pavement, curbs and other road hazards.
Failure to do so can lead to severe tire and wheel damage.
■If tire inflation pressure of e ach tire becomes low while drivi ng
Do not continue driving, or your t ires and/or wheels may be ruined.

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6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Tire inflation pressure
The recommended cold tire infla-
tion pressure and tire size are dis-
played on the tire and loading
information label. (P. 672)
Tire inflation pressure

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5436-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Tire valve
Tire pressure gauge
Remove the tire valve cap.
Press the tip of the tire pressure gauge onto the tire valve.
Read the pressure using the gauge gradations.
If the tire inflation pressure is not at the recommended level, adjust
the pressure.
If you add too much air, press the center of the valve to defla te.
After completing the tire inflation pressure measurement and
adjustment, apply soapy water to the valve and check for leakage.
Put the tire valve cap back on.
■Tire inflation pressure check interval
You should check tire inflation p ressure every two weeks, or at least once
a month.
Do not forget to check the spare.
■Effects of incorrect tire inflation pressure
Driving with incorrec t tire inflation pressure may result in th e following:
●Reduced fuel economy
●Reduced driving comfort and poor handling
●Reduced tire life due to wear
●Reduced safety
●Damage to the drive train
If a tire needs frequent inflating , have it checked by your Toyota dealer.
Inspection and adjustment procedure
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2
1
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3
4
5
6

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6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■Instructions for checking tire inflation pressure
When checking tire inflation pressure, observe the following:
●Check only when the tires are cold.
If your vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours or has not been
driven for more than 1 mile or 1.5 km, you will get an accurate cold tire
inflation pressure reading.
●Always use a tire pressure gauge.
It is difficult to judge if a tire is properly inflated based o nly on its appear-
ance.
●It is normal for the tire inflation pressure to be higher after driving as
heat is generated in the tire. Do not reduce tire inflation pre ssure after
driving.
●Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehi cle is
balanced.
WARNING
■Proper inflation is critical to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated.
If the tires are not properly in flated, the following conditions may occur
which could lead to an accident r esulting in death or serious injury:
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resulting from overh eated tires
●Air leaking from between tire and wheel
●Wheel deformation and/or tire damage
●Greater possibility of tire damage while driving (due to road hazards,
expansion joints, sharp ed ges in the road, etc.)
NOTICE
■When inspecting and adjusti ng tire inflation pressure
Be sure to put the tire valve caps back on.
If a valve cap is not installed , dirt or moisture may get into the valve and
cause an air leak, resulting in decreased tire inflation pressu re.